Pakistan Muslim League & Lucknow Pact

Era 1910-1916

February 20, 2015

Department of History & Pakistan Studies,

University of Gujrat

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PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE:

Background:

In the year 1905 Bengal was divided by the British into two provinces namely East Bengal

and West Bengal. East Bengal became a Muslims majority province as Dacca its capital. This

provided Muslims an opportunity to develop themselves. Congress and other rigid Hindu leaders

did not like the partition of Bengal and considered it as an anti –Hindu act. Keeping in view the

hostility of Congress, the Muslim leaders decided to establish a political party to safeguard the

rights of Muslims of South Asia. As a result, the All India Muslim League was formed in 1906

A. D during the annual meeting of Mohammedan Educational Conference. Sir Aga Khan – III was

the first president and Syed Ali Hassan Bilgrami was the first secretary general of Muslim

League.

Aims and Objectives of Muslim League:

Muslim League was established to protect the rights of Muslims and to promote their cause.

Following are the main aims and objectives of Muslim League.

To establish working relations between the British Govt. and the Muslims of South Asia.

Co-ordination between Muslim League and other political parties like Congress for

common welfare.

To protect the Muslim rights and promotion of their cause.

To unite the Muslims of South Asia.

Role of Muslim League in the Establishment of Pakistan:

The Muslim League provided Muslims an opportunity to unite themselves at one platform.

They struggle for their rights and attain freedom from the British. The role of Muslim League

can be mentioned below.

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a. Protection of Rights:

As a political party the immediate cause before the Muslim League was to safeguard the

Muslim rights. Muslim League adapted a balance attitude towards Congress and the British

Govt. as they were in numerical minority of South Asia.

b. Political Settlement with Congress:

From the very beginning, the Muslim League wanted a close and cordial terms with the

Congress. The Quaid-e-Azam joined Muslim League in the year 1913. He was a champion

of Hindu-Muslim unity. Due to his efforts, a political settlement was achieved between the

two political parties in 1916 in Lucknow, commonly known as The Lucknow Pact. It was

the first time when Congress accepted Muslims as a separate nation and Muslim League as

a political party of Muslims of South Asia.

c. Muslim Representation in the Legislative Assemblies:

Due to the efforts of Muslim League, Muslim representation was increased to one-third in

the Central Legislative Assembly.

d. Protection of Muslim Majority in Bengal and Punjab:

It was because of Muslim League that the strength of Muslims was established in Bengal

and Punjab.

e. Formation of Sindh Province:

The British occupied Sindh in the year 1843 A.D. Since then the separate status of Sindh

as a province was abolished. It was the effort of Muslim League that Sindh was restored

as a province in 1935. [1]

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THE MUSLIM LEAGUE AND MOHAMMED ALI JINNAH

Long before the British invaded and seized control of the subcontinent, Muslim armies had

conquered the settled populations in the rolling flat land that stretched from the foothills of the

Hindu Kush to the city of Delhi and the Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastward to Bengal. The last and

most successful of the Muslim conquerors was the Mughal dynasty (1526–1857), which eventually

spread its authority over virtually the entire subcontinent. British superiority coincided with

Mughal decline, and, following a period of European successes and Mughal failures on the

battlefield, the British brought an end to Mughal power. The last Mughal emperor was exiled

following the failed Indian Mutiny of 1857–58.

Less than three decades after that revolt, the Indian National Congress was formed to give

political representation to British India’s indigenous people. Although membership in the

Congress was open to all, Hindu participants overwhelmed the Muslim members. The All India

Muslim League, organized in 1906, aimed to give Muslims a voice so as to counter what was then

perceived as the growing influence of the Hindus under British rule. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, earlier

a prominent Muslim member of the Congress, assumed leadership of the league following his

break with Congress leader Mohandas K. Gandhi. A firm believer in the Anglo-Saxon rule of law

and a close associate of Iqbal, Jinnah questioned the security of the Muslim minority in an India

dominated by essentially Hindu authority. Declaring Islam was endangered by a revived Hindu

assertiveness, Jinnah and the league posited a “two-nation theory” that argued Indian Muslims

were entitled to—and therefore required—a separate, self-governing state in a reconstituted

subcontinent.

The British intention to grant self-government to India along the lines of British

parliamentary democracy is evident in the Government of India Act of 1935. Up to that time, the

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question of Hindus and Muslims sharing in the governance of India was generally acceptable,

although it was also acknowledged that Hindus more so than Muslims had accommodated

themselves to British customs and the colonial manner of administration. Moreover, following the

failed Indian Mutiny, Hindus were more eager to adopt British behaviours and ideas, whereas

Indian Muslims bore the brunt of British wrath.

The Mughal Empire was formally dissolved in 1858, and its last ruler was banished from

the subcontinent. Believing they had been singled out for punishment, India’s Muslim population

was reluctant to adopt British ways or take advantage of English educational opportunities. As a

consequence of these different positions, Hindus advanced under British rule at the expense of

their Muslim counterparts, and when Britain opened the civil service to the native population, the

Hindus virtually monopolized the postings. Although influential Muslims such as Sayyid Ahmad

Khan recognized the growing power imbalance and encouraged Muslims to seek European

education and entry into the colonial civil service, they also realized that catching up to the more

progressive and advantaged Hindus was an impossible task.

It was this juxtaposition of an emerging feeling of Hindu superiority and a sustained sense

among Muslims of inferiority that the All India Muslim League addressed in its claim to represent

the Muslims of India. Unlike other Muslim movements of the period, the Muslim League

articulated the sentiments of the attentive and at the same time more moderate elements among

India’s Muslim population. The Muslim League, with Jinnah as its spokesman, was also the

preferred organization from the standpoint of British authority. Unlike Gandhi’s practices of civil

disobedience, the lawyer Jinnah (who was called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London) was more

inclined to promote the rule of law in seeking separation from imperial rule. Jinnah, therefore, was

more open to a negotiated settlement, and, indeed, his first instinct was to preserve the unity of

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India, albeit with adequate safeguards for the Muslim community. For Jinnah, the Lahore (later

Pakistan) Resolution of 1940, which called for an independent Muslim state or states in India, did

not at first imply the breakup of the Indian union.

World War II (1939–45) proved to be the catalyst for an unanticipated change in political

power. Under pressure from a variety of popular national movements—notably those organized

by the Congress and led by Gandhi—the war-weakened British were forced to consider

abandoning India. In response to the Congress campaign that Britain quit India, London sent a

mission headed by Sir Richard Stafford Cripps (the Cripps Mission) to New Delhi in early 1942

with the promise that Congress’s cooperation in the war effort would be rewarded with greater

self-rule and possibly even independence when the war ended. Gandhi and the other Congress

leaders, however, could not be appeased, and their insistence that Britain allow for a transfer of

power while the war raged produced an impasse and the failure of the mission.

During that period, the Jinnah-led Muslim League was substantially less aggressive in

seeking immediate British withdrawal. The differences between the two groups were not lost on

Britain, and the eventual defeat of Germany and Japan set the scene for the drama that resulted in

the partition of British India and the independence of Pakistan. The new postwar Labour Party

government of Clement Attlee, succeeding the Conservative Winston Churchill government, was

determined to terminate its authority in India. A cabinet mission led by William Pethick-Lawrence

was sent in 1946 to discuss and possibly arrange the mechanisms for the transfer of power to

indigenous hands. Throughout the deliberations the British had to contend with two prominent

players: Gandhi and the Congress and Jinnah and the Muslim League. Jinnah laboured to find a

suitable formula that addressed the mutual and different needs of the subcontinent’s two major

communities. When Pethick-Lawrence’s mission proved unequal to the task of reconciling the

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parties, the last chance for a compromise solution was lost. Each of the major actors blamed the

other for the breakdown in negotiations, with Jinnah insisting on the realization of the “two-nation

theory.” The goal now was nothing less than the creation of a sovereign, independent Pakistan. [2]

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MUSLIM LEAGUE

The role played by All India Muslim League in the creation of Pakistan is summarized under:

1. Minto-Morley Reform Act -1909

The Muslims under the able leadership of the Muslim league now began to press for the

separate electorate for the Muslims. The authorities accepted their demand in Act, called “The

Minto-Morley Reform Act”, in 1909.

2. Lucknow Pack-1916

In November 1916, two committees of League and Congress met at Calcutta and drew an

agreement draft of political reform for India called “Lucknow Pact”. Through this pact the

Congress recognized the separate status of Muslims.

3. Simon Commission

In 1927, Simon Commission was sent to India under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon

to settle Muslim Hindu differences. It was rejected because there was no Indian member on the

commission.

4. Jinnah’s Fourteen Points-1929

The Quaid-e-Azam refused to accept the Nehru-report. In order to protect the Muslim’s

point of view on the political issues of South Asia, he prepared a draft of guiding principles

consisting of 14 points, popularly known as “Jinnah’s Fourteen Points.”

5. Allama Iqbal’s Allahabad Address-1930

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In 1930,in his presidential address at annual session of League at Allahabad, Iqbal proposed

the formation of a separate Muslim State by combining Northern and South Western Muslim

majority region in Sub Continent.

6. Day of Deliverance

On 22nd December ,Muslim League observed “Deliverance Day” to thank God for

resignation of Congress Ministers.

7. Pakistan Resolution -1940

The attitude of the Hindus made it clear that the Hindus and Muslims were two separate

nations. On March 23rd,at the Annual session of Muslim League at Lahore, the famous resolution

,commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution was passed. It presented by Maulvi Fazlul Haq.

Quiad-e-Azam said in his address:

“By all means Muslims are one nation and they need a separate homeland where they could live

their spiritual, cultural, economical, social and political lives independently.”

8. Cripps Mission-1942

Sir Stafford Cripps was sent by the British Government to India, to discuss with Indian

leaders, the future Indian Constitution. His proposal was rejected by both the Congress and the

League. The Congress characterized them as “a post-dated checque on a failing bank” Jinnah said

that:

“If these were accepted “Muslims would become a minority in their majority provinces as well.”

9. Gandhi Jinnah Talks-1944

Gandhi held talks with Jinnah to discuss about the future of India, but no fruitful results

came out of it because Gandhi did not accept Muslims as a separate nation.”

Louis Feisher wrote:

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“The wall between Jinnah and Gandhi was the Two Nation Theory .”

10. Simla Conference -1945

Lord Wavell called a conference at Simla. The conference failed to achieve any purpose

due to one sided attitude of Lord Wavell. In this conference ,Quaid-e-Azam made it crystal clear

that the Muslim League can represent Muslims of India.

11. General Elections-1945-1946

Elections for the central and provincial assemblies were held in 1945-1946 in which

Muslim League won 30 seats of central legislative meant for Muslims and 430 seats out of 495 in

the provincial legislative. Quiad-e-Azam said on this occasion:

“I have no doubt now in the achievement of Pakistan. The Muslims of India told the world what

they want. No power of world can topple the opinion of 10 crore Muslims of India.”

12. Cabinet Mission-1946

Cabinet Mission a visited India in 1946 and submitted its recommendations to the

Britishers. As a result Interim Government was formed but Congress and League couldn’t co-

operate amongst themselves.

13. Delhi Convention-1946

Quaid-e-Azam called a convention of all the Muslim League members at Delhi. At the

convention every member took the pledge to undergo any danger for the attainment of national

goal of Pakistan.

14. 3rd June Plan -1947

Lord Mount Batten prepared the plan for transference of power according to the wish of

people. He emphasized on the partition of the country and told that it was the only solution of the

Indian political deadlock. Both League and Congress accepted the plan. [3]

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LUCKNOW PACT:

Lucknow Pact, (December 1916), agreement made by the Indian National Congress headed

by Maratha leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the All-India Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali

Jinnah; it was adopted by the Congress at its Lucknow session on December 29 and by the league

on Dec. 31, 1916. The meeting at Lucknow marked the reunion of the moderate and radical wings

of the Congress. The pact dealt both with the structure of the government of India and with the

relation of the Hindu and Muslim communities.

On the former count, the proposals were an advance on Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s “political

testament.” Four-fifths of the provincial and central legislatures were to be elected on a broad

franchise, and half the executive council members, including those of the central executive council,

were to be Indians elected by the councils themselves. Except for the provision for the central

executive, these proposals were largely embodied in the Government of India Act of 1919. The

Congress also agreed to separate electorates for Muslims in provincial council elections and for

weightage in their favour (beyond the proportions indicated by population) in all provinces except

the Punjab and Bengal, where they gave some ground to the Hindu and Sikh minorities. This pact

paved the way for Hindu-Muslim cooperation in the Khilafat movement and Mohandas Gandhi’s

noncooperation movement from 1920. [4]

The Lucknow agreement took a new twist with change in Muslim League’s political

doctrine. The Quaid-e-Azam inclusion in the Muslim league was a historic event, which gave new

direction to Muslim league’s political struggle. Self-rule for India brought the Muslim league and

the Congress closer to each other. The leaders of the both parties agreed that they should cooperate

with each other to make the British accept their demands. They acknowledged that the objectives

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can be achieved if the two major communities of India forget their differences on petty issues and

come closer to each other to see eye to eye on the important national issues. The political vicinity

had taken a happy turn and ground for cherished Hindu Muslim unity had been smoothed.

Lucknow pact is considered as a significant event in the political constitutional history of

India. It is regarded a high water marked of Hindu Muslim unity. It was the first and last pact

signed between Congress and Muslim league.

Factor’s Behind the Pact

The relations between the British government and Muslims were tensed due to aggressive

and unilateral policies of the British. The annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911 was a jolt

for the Muslims of India; consequently it shattered their confidence in British and brought Muslims

closer to Hindus against the British. Similarly the Kanpur mosque incident and the British policies

in the international system had caused deep anguish among the Muslims. Thus the Muslims

leaderships decided to change the strategy of the Muslim league after the annulment of Bengal in

1911. In December 1912, Muslim league change its aim from loyalty to form self-government

suitable to India. However, the league retained the right to modify self-rule in accordance with

their needs and requirements.

Jinnah and the Pact

Jinnah arose as a devoted champion of Hindu Muslim unity, he convinced all India Muslim

league to change their policies for the better of India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his early career

was a member of both the Congress and the Muslim league and was well known as a man free of

any religious prejudice, as well as a brilliant advocate and debater. In 1915, mainly due to his

efforts, both the Muslim league and the Congress party had their annual meeting in Bombay. At

the end of this meeting, a committee was formed with the intention to sort the common

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understanding between the two communities. The committee prepared a scheme in November,

1916. The scheme was approved by both the parties in December, 1916 at the respective sessions

at Lucknow. Quaid-e-Azam, in his presidential speech at Lucknow, said “India’s real progress

can only be achieved by a true understanding and harmonious relations between the two great

communities. With regard to our own affairs, we can depend upon nobody but ourselves.” [5]

Clauses of the Pact

The main clauses of the Lucknow Pact were:

1) There shall be self-government in India.

2) Muslims should be given one-third representation in the central government.

3) There should be separate electorates for all the communities until a community

demanded for joint electorates.

4) System of weightage should be adopted.

5) The number of the members of Central Legislative Council should be increased to

150.

6) At the provincial level, four-fifth of the members of the Legislative Councils should

be elected and one-fifth should be nominated.

7) The strength of Provincial legislative should not be less than 125 in the major

provinces and from 50 to 75 in the minor provinces.

8) All members, except those nominated, were to be elected directly on the basis of

adult franchise.

9) No bill concerning a community should be passed if the bill is opposed by three-

fourth of the members of that community in the Legislative Council.

10) Term of the Legislative Council should be five years.

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11) Members of Legislative Council should themselves elect their president.

12) Half of the members of Imperial Legislative Council should be Indians.

13) Indian Council must be abolished.

14) The salaries of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs should be paid by the British

Government and not from Indian funds.

15) Out of two Under Secretaries, one should be Indian.

16) The Executive should be separated from the Judiciary. [6]

Features of the Pact

The congress party agreed to the right to separate electorate for the Muslims first and last

time in the history of subcontinent. The Hindus conceded that the Muslims would have one third

representation in the imperial legislative council. A weightage formula was proposed under which

the Muslims would get less representation than their population in the legislative council in those

provinces where they were in majority but more in provinces where they were in minority. The

provincial legislative council will have fourth fifth as elected members and one fifth as nominated

members. The member’s would be elected by the people directly for the term of five years. In the

major provinces the strength of the legislative councils would be 125 and in the minor provinces

the strength would be 50 and 75. The Muslims shall be elected through special electorates and

their strength in the different provinces shall be as: Punjab 50%, Bengal 40%, U.P 30%, Bihar

25%, C.P 15%, Madras 15% and Bombay 33 %.

No bill, nor any clause thereof, nor a resolution introduces by a non-official member

effecting one or other community shall be presented in the assembly without approval of the

concern group. Provincial autonomy will be given to the province with maximum powers vested

with the provincial council. The provincial council will have authorized to impose taxes, raise

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loans, and to vote on budget. All proposals for raising revenues shall have to be submitted to the

provincial council for sanction. There shall be an executive council in the province headed by the

governor whose half of the member’s shall Indian national elected by the elected members of the

legislative council their term of office shall be five year. The members of the assemblies shall have

the right to present adjournment motion. Seats were reserved for the Muslims in those provinces

in which they were in minority under the system weightages. Protection shall be given to the

Hindus in Muslim majority provinces. In the centre there shall be and imperial legislative council

consisting of 150 members. Four fifth of the members shall be elected for a term of five years on

the basis of direct election. The Muslims shall be given 1/3 seats of the elected members and they

will be elected by separate Muslim electorates. The central Government will be headed by the

government will be headed by the Governor General, who would be assisted by an executive

council. Half of the members of the executive council shall be Indians elected by the elected

members of the imperial legislative council.

Importance of the Pact

The Lucknow pact was a great achievement of Hindu and Muslim leaders, who were

successful in offering for the first and the only time, a mutually acceptable solution of the Hindu

Muslim problem. It appeared as a special significance in the history of India. It was the Quaid-e-

Azam, who had always been a staunch supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity. The scheme provided

for a substantial step taken halfway towards the establishment of self-rule in India which was main

core of the jointly sponsored scheme of Lucknow pact. The Congress first time accepted the

demand of separate electorate for Muslims. The pact ensured the protection of political rights of

Muslims. Muslim league separate status was also being accepted. Through the pact the both parties

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were able to put a joint demand before the British. Congress got strength in term of political and

masses because it had got All India Muslim League Supports.

It was basically give and take sort of agreement between the both parties. The Muslims had

to pay a big price of loosing majority in Bengal and Punjab to obtain some concessions. Similarly,

it carried great constitutional significance in the future for many developments. The scheme of

representation of Muslim community in the central and provincial legislatures as embodied in the

Lucknow pact was generally followed in the Montague Chelmsford reforms. [5]

Conclusion

Muslim League thus got its object and Pakistan was created on 14th August 1947.In short

we can say that the creation of Pakistan is the result of the ceaseless efforts of the Muslim League

and the great heroes which dedicated their lives for the creation of Pakistan. If there were be no

Muslim League the fate of the Muslims of the Sub Continent could not be changed. The greatest

achievement of Muslim League was the creation of Pakistan. Under the dynamic leadership of

Quaid-e-Azam the Muslims united themselves on the platform of Muslim League and achieved

Pakistan in 1947.

The Lucknow Pact agreement was very outstanding and its dreams were fulfilled the whole

political scenario of Indian subcontinent were different. But, it was impossible to the parties to

make a united India. The Hindus and Muslims are two different nation and they have different

culture and civilization. Therefore the Lucknow Pact failed to make a long lasting cooperation in

India among the Muslims and Hindus.

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REFERENCES:

1. Khan, M. A. (2012). Role of Muslim League in the struggle for Pakistan and its aims,

objects. Retrieved from http://aboutpak.blogspot.com/2012/03/role-of-muslim-league-in-

struggle-for.html

2. Burki, S. J. (2015). The Muslim League and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Encyclopedia

Britannica. Retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438805/Pakistan/23663/The-Muslim-

League-and-Mohammed-Ali-Jinnah

3. Patel, F. (2010). Role of Muslim League in the Creation of Pakistan. Retrieve from

http://www.guesspapers.net/1851/role-of-muslim-league-in-the-creation-of-pakistan/

4. Lucknow Pact. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/350663/Lucknow-Pact

5. Lukhnow Pact. Retrieved from http://historypak.com/lukhnow-pact/

6. Khan, A. Z. (2012). The Lucknow Pact [1916]. Retrieved from

http://csspoint.yolasite.com/resources/The%20Lucknow%20Pact%20[1916].pdf